Suspicious Non-Browser Network Communication With Google API
Detects a non-browser process interacting with the Google API which could indicate the use of a covert C2 such as Google Sheet C2 (GC2-sheet)
Detection logic
Detection requirements
Known benign triggers
- Legitimate applications communicating with the "googleapis.com" endpoints that are not already in the exclusion list. This is environmental dependent and requires further testing and tuning.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| github.com/looCiprian/GC2-sheet | Only this detection cites it |
| services.google.com/fh/files/blogs/gcat_threathorizons_full_apr2023.pdf | Only this detection cites it |
| www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-command-and-control-red-team-tool-in-attacks/ | Only this detection cites it |
| www.tanium.com/blog/apt41-deploys-google-gc2-for-attacks-cyber-threat-intelligence-roundup/ | Only this detection cites it |
| youtu.be/n2dFlSaBBKo | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 7e9cf7b6-e827-11ed-a05b-0242ac120003
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.command-and-control
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1